Jay still went to Yuri.
Yuri was already walking ahead, hands in his pockets, not even checking if she was behind him.
Jay hurried her steps. "Yuri… wait."
Keifer felt it before he saw it.
That small, painful choice.
Jay gently slipped her wrist out of Keifer's hand.
"I'm sorry…" she whispered.
Not to Yuri.
To Keifer.
Keifer didn't stop her.
He just watched.
Yuri glanced back with a lazy, annoyed look. "Took you long enough."
Jay forced a tiny smile. "You were walking too fast."
"So? Keep up," he said flatly, then turned again.
Keifer stood there.
Still.
Quiet.
Jay followed Yuri, half a step behind him, like she always did.
"Did you seriously make a scene back there?" Yuri muttered.
Jay's heart dropped. "I didn't… Keifer just—"
Yuri cut her off. "Of course it's Keifer. You always let him interfere."
She flinched.
"I wasn't letting him… he just asked if I was okay…"
Yuri laughed once, sharp. "You love playing the victim, huh?"
Jay stopped walking for a second.
Her voice came out small. "I don't."
Yuri turned to her, eyes cold. "Then stop acting like everyone's hurting you. You're just too sensitive."
Jay nodded.
Automatically.
"I'll try… I promise."
From far behind them, Keifer saw her nod.
And that hurt more than if she had cried.
Because he knew—
She wasn't weak.
She was just desperately trying to be loved by the wrong person.